Network Marketing by Design

This video is the perfect example of what business professionals outside of network marketing think when we pounce on them with our opportunity. In attraction based marketing we wait for people to follow us or we attract and sponsor by becoming friends first.

Have you ever been to an event or conference that was supposed to be networking neutral and had someone start pitching their “opportunity” to you? How did it make you feel? MLM business owners are notorious for being a network marketer first and losing sight of who they really are in the business world. Among the first rules of attraction marketing is “Be Attractive by Making Friends First”!

Network marketing can be a very attractive option for creating multiple streams of income. So why do network marketing business owners feel the need to jump at every chance to promote their business and lose sight of the etiquette and purpose of social networking? What makes them see everyone they meet as a potential customer or prospect?

There are differing opinions, but I think it comes down to some clear network marketing fallacies and fears that have been perpetuated by years of wrong thinking and traditional mlm training. Have I been subject to this wrong thinking in my career? You bet, but thankfully my paradigm has changed.

Networking offline or online, there are some attraction based principles that will help you find the right person to partner or network with whether or not they ever join your team or primary company. These same principles also make you the right person for them. Remember the power of attraction goes both ways!

• Be genuine. The true you will manifest eventually, so approach people with authenticity and integrity. When participating in social sites like Facebook. Linkedin, Twitter, etc. look for people who share your interests, values, and passion. It isn’t about the numbers of people following you or how many are in your friend box, but the quality of relationship and mutual benefit you provide each other.

• Give value. Let’s be honest in recognizing that everyone wants to know “what’s in it for me”.  No relationship is a one way street. Mutual respect and ongoing attraction is a result of personal and professional needs being fulfilled in the relationship.  Look for meaningful ways you can promote and support your social relationships. Become a value match! Build trust and be the first to give.

• Relationship first. That means putting aside your business and professional agenda and having fun, being available, and taking time to get to know your network. That’s why you pick and choose carefully who you network with and how many networks you join, because being engaged requires effort. If you are networking online, blogs, Squidoo lenses, Hub pages, social sites, all benefit from interaction. Polling, asking questions, requesting feedback without pushing product allows you to get to know your network more intimately. Link to good articles and promote others when it’s appropriate. Offline, meet outside of a professional setting for coffee or a drink, ask what you can do to help, and then take action. I like to refer to this as “romancing the sale”. You wouldn’t propose on a first date, so don’t push for a sale the first time you meet.

Deeper friendships are lasting friendships that support you in business and life. In network marketing that’s especially important since companies and opportunities can be here today and gone tomorrow. Make it a priority to be you first and a network marketer second. Be a networker that makes joining an mlm an attractive proposition by following the rule of “Making Friends First”.

I had the most dynamic customer service experience when purchasing a laptop last week. It made the $1800 spent satisfying instead of painful. It also was a great business building lesson that has everything to do with attraction marketing.

I had every intention of coming home with an HP laptop computer that I had researched and determined would be within my budget and provide the features I needed. What I got was a salesman who guided me in making a better decision, saved me money, and offered more value for the money spent. 

Applying these customer service strategies to your network marketing business will make you someone people want to return to again and again as an attractive source of information and support.

1. Build rapport: The first thing he did was get to know us. My husband and I are currently residing in Australia, and it was obvious by our accent that we were American. He was from Uruguay, so our initial conversation was about our experiences in coming to Australia. It was genuine and comfortable. He then shared his background in electronics, and what resulted was a feeling of trust that he knew about computers and had our best interests in mind. We felt totally at ease with him and never once felt like he was trying to sell us something. Are you taking the time to build relationship first?
2. Listen: Next, he listened to what we were looking for. I had clarity about what I wanted, had done my research, had shopped other vendors, and had even gone to this store previously and selected which computer I planned to purchase. What happened from here, though, was the key in taking notice of his sales skills. Because he had an extensive knowledge of computers, and had laid the foundation of trust and rapport through casual conversation first, we were open to his expertise. Are you taking the time to listen to what your clients want and need?
3. Ask the Right Questions: From there, he simply asked all the right questions. He asked me if I wanted to save $100 on the purchase…who wouldn’t? He asked me if I knew that another company, a less known brand, made the components for the HP computer I intended to purchase. No, I didn’t. He asked me if I’d rather have a 2 year over a 1 year warranty. Of course I would. And, he asked me if I’d rather rely on a local service center in the US or Australia, or have access to service anywhere in the world. The worldwide option looked attractive to me. In addition, I would get a complete pack of extra components for free and be getting the exact same features as the HP, minus one small item that I didn’t need anyway. Are you asking questions that will guide your client to make a decision that they feel good about? 
4. Offer Options: In the interest of saving me money and providing better value, he brought me an option that allowed me to choose something that was possibly better for me. There was no pressure and I felt no agenda on his part. He simply educated us and allowed us to make our own decision. Are you setting aside your own agenda to give your client choices?
5. Do More Than Expected: He walked us through the purchase process personally. He served us coffee while we filled out the forms. He picked up the computer from the warehouse himself, brought it to the counter for checkout, and made sure we got everything we needed. Then, lastly, he carried it out to our vehicle for us. He could have just as easily passed those menial tasks to others, but he personally made sure that we were satisfied to the end. Both my husband and I commented on the excellent service we had just experienced…something not as common in today’s business world. Are you offering people more than they expect?

A few days later we needed a cable and program to transfer some data from my old laptop to the new one. Guess where we went and who we looked for? And we’ll return to him every time we need computer help because we trust his service. 

Today is the perfect time to put these lessons into practice. You have something of value to offer. Enthusiastically give genuine service that provides others with lasting satisfaction and that feeling of being special. In doing so, you will be an attraction magnet.

Determining what makes a person right for you is probably one of the keys in creating business success. Remember in "Network Marketing by Design" you are responsible for creating the type of business that reflects your values, has a distinct need and mission to fulfill in the marketplace and in the lives of those who join you, and provides the environment that results in you and others who join you achieving their goals.

People will follow you…not your company or products. So, you need to be clear about YOU first. Ask yourself these questions.

• Do I reflect the mindset of a leader?

That doesn’t mean you have to be making a six figure income and already be a top performer. It means you see yourself as someone who can lead with confidence and believes you can attract other leaders. If you want strong leadership on your team, you need to posture yourself as a leader.

•  Can you provide value to others? Are you willing to give before you get and do you have something worthwhile to give?

People are attracted to those who provide something they want and your value in the marketplace will attract those who need or want what you can provide. Others who offer value will also be more attracted to you as partners. Make giving a priority!

•  Can you communicate effectively with all personality types?

Not everyone is going to be just like you. Yes, you attract people similar, but a strong team will be made up of many talents and motivations and having good people skills will make you a more attractive person to a greater variety of people. It’s important to grow relationships of trust first, and communication is a key to building relationships that often expand into deeper friendships

Mike Dillard’s Magnetic Sponsoring is a great resource for developing a stronger leadership mindset. If you want to learn more about “alpha” leadership and posturing and why that is important in attraction marketing, I recommend purchasing the book for your library and referencing it often. He has been one of my key mentors in network and internet marketing and I’ve received incredible value from him.

The next step is having clarity about the type of person who isn’t just “right”, but is right for you. Write down the qualities you desire in a strategic partner. Keep in mind the core character traits that are needed for home business success and look for those as you communicate with people. Keep your list close and use it as a reminder to ask the questions that will help you select the right person for you.

Stay away from the mindset that everyone who shows up is “right”. Steer clear of the poverty mentality that tries to convince you to enroll everyone, whether they’re right or not. You’ll have a lot more fun, establish a more effective business, better serve your team members, as well as make more money if you have the perfect people joining you. That’s using attraction marketing to design a win/win for your network marketing business.

Magnetic sponsoring…attraction marketing…exactly what does this mean? Wikipedia doesn’t even have the answer, but in today’s world of social media and internetworking it simply refers to the ways network marketers and internet marketers in general are attracting people to themselves in business relationships that are mutually fulfilling and compatible.

The truth is that your perfect business prospects and product customers are looking for you and often times all you need to do is slow down, and show up in a way that makes you available for those looking for what you provide.

This seems simple minded for those who been taught to pursue, convince, even shove products and opportunities down the throats of those they care about.

Whether that has been a successful model or a complete failure for you, I’m here to tell you there is another way. You can build your network business the old way or the smart way. You can use attraction marketing, the power of internetworking, and magnetic sponsoring to find the “perfect” prospect. And you can create cash flow, provide incredible value, and build lasting relationships in the process.

How do you know when a prospect is a perfect fit? Well a lot of that depends on who you are trying to attract. There are some clear criteria of what makes a person right and some steps you need to take to target the market you desire to reach. All of this is part of "Network Marketing by Design". You can choose who you want to work with by following a few key steps in posturing yourself for success.

 So where do you start? I’ve found an exceptional resource in Renegade University. This step by step web-based training using Web 2.0 and social networking will guide you in designing your network marketing business with intention and results. You’ll become more visible so your perfect prospect can find you.